Hybrid Tea rose plant ‘KORjafir’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant which have attractive magenta-purple colored flowers and attractive dark green and glossy foliage. The buds are large and well turbinated. This new variety is having high production of long stems with a long vase life, vigorous, upright growth, and good tolerance to powdery mildew. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is well suitable for year round production of cut flowers in commercial glass houses as a flowering cut rose. This and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of genus and species: Rosa hybrid ‘KORjafir’.

Variety denomination: The new variety is named ‘KORjafir’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of HybridTea rose plant, which was developed by artificially pollinating anunnamed seedling(not patent in the United States) with an unnamedseedling (not patent in the United States). The two parents were crossedin the summer of 1999 and the resulting seed was sown in December 1999,in a controlled glasshouse environment. Out of these seedlings oneseedling was selected, as the new variety and named ‘KORjafir’. The newrose may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed seedling, bythe following combination of characteristics:

1. The unnamed seedlings has a breeding background in unnamed seedlings.

2. ‘KORjafir’ has big double flowers, while the unnamed seedling hasmedium-doubled flowers.

3. ‘KORjafir’ has dark pink colored petals, while the unnamed seedlinghas dark red petals.

The new variety may distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamedseedling created by the same inventor, by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

1. The unnamed seedling has a breeding background in unnamed seedlings.

2. ‘KORjafir’ has bigger flowers and foliage as compared to the unnamedseedling.

3. ‘KORjafir’ has dark pink colored petals, while the unnamed seedlinghas light pink petals.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Initial asexual reproduction of ‘KORjafir’ by cuttings was first done inKlein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany. The reproduction was conducted incontrolled greenhouse environments. Have here proven to be stabile bypropagation with cuttings in several generations.

‘KORjafir’ is a high productive Hybrid Tea rose with a vaselife ofapproximately 14 days. ‘KORjafir’ under conventional greenhouseproduction ( 18 degree Celcius nights, and 26 Celcius day's) in Germanywill produce 170-240 stems per year, averaging 70 cm long.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercialgreenhouse culture was to create a new and distinct variety with:

1. Uniform and abundant flowers with good vaselife.

2. Attractive long lasting foliage and strong growth.

3. Year round flowering under glasshouse conditions.

4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings.

5. Durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable fordistribution in the floral industry.

This combination of qualities was not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type and distinguish ‘KORjafir’ from allother varieties of which we are aware.

The seeds from hybridization were planted in a controlled environmentand evaluations were conducted on the resulting plants. ‘KORjafir’ wasselected by Wilhelm Kordes in his development program in KleinOffenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonably toobtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics ofthe buds, flowers, leaves, stems of ‘KORjafir’. Specifically illustratedin:

Photo sheet # 1: Young shoot.

FIG. 1. Bud before opening the sepals.

FIG. 2. Bud at the opening the sepals.

FIG. 3. Bud at the opening the petals.

FIG. 4. Flower during course of opening.

FIG. 5. Open flower—plan view.

Photo sheet # 2:

FIG. 6. Open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 7. Open flower—plan view—reverse.

FIG. 8. Fully open flower—plan view—obverse.

FIG. 9. Fully open flower—plan view —reverse.

Photo sheet # 3:

FIG. 10. Receptacle showing stamens and pistils.

FIG. 11. Receptacle showing pistils (stamens removed).

FIG. 12. Flower petals, detached—outer surface.

FIG. 13. Flower petals, detached—inner surface.

FIG. 14. Bare stem exhibiting thorns and flower attachment.

Photo sheet # 4

FIG. 15. Three leaflets upper side.

FIG. 16. Three leaflets reverse side.

Photo sheet # 5

FIG. 17. Five leaflets upper side.

FIG. 18. Five leaflets reverse side.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the Hybrid Tea Rose: Rosahybrid ‘KORjafir’.

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in glass houses in Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop,Germany. The age of the observed plants where 11 to 13 months afterpropagation by cuttings, and produced as flowering cut-rose plants.

Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London,England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of color areused. For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is ‘MagicBeauty’, a rose variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,655.

Chart 1 details several physical characteristics of ‘Korjafir’ and‘Magic Beauty’.

CHART 1 ‘Korjafir’ ‘Magic Beauty’ Petal color, Upper Red-Purple GroupRed-Purple Group 74-A on surface 57-B the edge, blending to Red Group56-C near the middle Petal color, Reverse Red-Purple Group Red Group47-A surface 57-B Blending to Yellow-Orange Group 15-B at the centerPetal count 50-55 26-32 Parents Unnamed Seedling ‘Love’ and ‘Gold Metal’

Parents: Unnamed seedling. Times. Unnamed seedling.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Rosa hybrid.

Commercial: Hybrid Tea.

PLANT

Plant growth: Very vigorous. Grows Strong upright to bushy. Productiontime for floral stems is generally 6 to 8 weeks depending on averagetemperature, light level and cultural practices.

Height: Plants which were pruned at height of 0.5 meter, produce floralstems having a length of 40 to 90 cm.

STEM

Color:

Young wood.—Green Group 143 C with intonations of Greyed-Purple Group183 C.

Older wood.—Green Group 139 A with intonations of Greyed-Purple Group183 C.

Thorns:

Incidence.—High number of thorns.

Size.—8-10 mm.

Color.—Greyed-Purple Group 183 A with intonations of Green Group 143 D.at the base.

Shape.—Deep concave, bending downward.

Surface:

Young wood.—Smooth.

Older wood.—Smooth.

Stem diameter: 5-8 mm.

Internode length: 50-70 mm.

Numbers of internodes: l0-12.

PLANT FOLIAGE

Leaves arranged alternately, compound with three to seven leaflets perleaf, generally symmetrical, abundant, and flat in aspect. Stipules atpetiole base.

Quantity of leaves: 10 to 12 per lateral branch.

Leaf size.—Large 60-70 mm(l). times. 40-60 mm(w).

Petioles.—Color: Green Group 139 A with intonations of Greyed-PurpleGroup 183 C. Margins: entire with stipitate glands. Length: 20-25 mmDiameter: about 1-2 mm.

Stipules.—Size: 15-20 mm. Surface: Smooth. Color: Green Group 139 B withintonations of Greyed-Purple 183 C. Margins: single, serrated.

Rachis.—Color: Green Group 139 B with intonations of Greyed-Purple Group183 C. Margins: Margins with stipitade glands and thorns on the lowerside. Length: 20 to 30 mm.

Leaflets.—Edge: Serrated. Serration: Double. Shape: Ovate with abtuseapex and rotundate base. Texture: Smooth. Appearance: Dull. Size:length: 20 to 40 mm. With: 30 to 70 mm. Color: Young foliage: Uppersurface: Green Group 143 C with intonations of Green-Purple Group 183 C.Lower surface: Green Group 143 C with intonations of Greyed-Purple Group183 C. Color: Mature foliage: Upper surface: Green Group 139 A. Lowersurface: Greyed-Green Group 189 A.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Recurrent.

Number of flowers.—Generally 1 bud per flowering stem.

Peduncle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144 A, Texture: Smooth. Length:30-40 mm. Strength: Upright,

Receptacle.—Surface: Smooth, glabrous. Shape: Funnel-shaped. Size: h:10-12 mm. w: 12-15 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144 A.

Sepals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Narrowly Ovate w. acute tip. Texture:Leathery. Margin: Foliaceous appendages on 2-3 of the five sepals.Appearance: Dull. Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 144 A.Reverse surface: Yellow-Green Group 144 D.

Buds.—Size: 30-40 mm (h) 25-27 mm (w)upon opening. Shape: Urceolate.Color: at ¼ opening, Red Group 53 C.

Flower:

Duration.—As a cutflower, flowers last app. 14 days. Fragrance. Little.Size: 80-100 mm in diameter. Form: Shape of flower when viewed from theside. Up on opening: Cupped. Open flower: Cupped to flat. Color: Petals,upon opening. Upper surface: Red-Purple Group 57 B. Reverse surface:Red-Purple Group 57 B. Petals after opening: Upper surface: Red-PurpleGroup 57 B. Reverse surface: Red-Purple Group 57 B. Basal Petals spots:Size 5-7 mm. Colour: White Group 155 D. General tonality: On Openflower: Third day: Red-Purple Group 57 A. Afterwards: Red-Purple Group57 C.

Petals:

Petal reflex.—Outermost petals reflex backwards at opening. Fully openall petals reflex backwards.

Texture.—Smooth.

Petal edge.—Uniform.

Petal count.—Approximately 50-55 on the average per flower.

Petal size.—Length 50 mm With: 70 mm.

Shape.—Outer petals: Round. Inner petals: Round.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen number.—Approximately 55-65 on average per flower.

Pollen.—Color: Greyed-Orange Group 168 B-C Abundance: Average.

Anthers.—Size: 1-2 mm Color: Greyed-Orange Group 168 B-C. Shape: Oblong.

Filaments.—Size: 8-10 mm Color: Red-Purple Group 57 A.

Pistils number.—Approximately 55-60 on average per flower.

Stigmas.—Location: Superior in location to anthers Color: Greyed-OrangeGroup 163 D.

Styles.—Color: Red-Purple Group 66 A. Length: 3 to 5 mm.

DEVELOPMENT

Vegetation: Dense.

Blooming: Abundant.

Aptitude to bear fruit: Poor.

Resistance to diseases: Above average resistance to mildew and Botrytisunder normal growing conditions in Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop,Germany. Hips/seeds has not been observed due to that the plant hasnever been grown to the stage of seed development, due to the fact, thatthe variety is developed for producing floral stems only.

Winter hardiness & drought/heat tolerance: Due to the fact, that thisvariety is a cut rose plant, developed for producing floral stems only,the plant is not tested for winter hardiness or drought/heat tolerance.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Hybrid Teaclass, substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinctand novel rose variety due to its abundant magenta-purple coloredflowers, attractive long lasting foliage, vigorous and upright growth,year round flowering under glasshouse conditions, suitability forproduction from softwood cuttings, and durable flowers and foliage whichmake the variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry.